South Africa releases Thai rhino horn smuggler years early

Rhino horn trafficker Chumlong Lemtongthai – released from prison in South Africa yesterday and deported to Thailand – was initially sentenced to 40 years behind bars. The Supreme Court of Appeal reduced his sentence to 13 years. He served half that.

Supreme Court statement:

South Africa’s Supreme Court of Appeal reduced rhino horn trafficker Chumlong Lemtongthai’s 30 year jail sentence to 13 years and a R1-million fine. In his judgment, the acting deputy judge president, Mahomed Navsa, said that the “the sentence of 30 years imprisonment is too severe and induces a sense of shock”. “It is disproportionate when compared to the minimum sentences statutorily prescribed for other serious offences. Thus, we are at large to interfere in the sentence.” For more on the Lemtongthai case and the notorious Xaysavang wildlife crime syndicate, read Killing for Profit: http://www.killingforprofit.com